Wishow Lake Fishing in Vilas County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Wishow Lake sits within Vilas County in Wisconsin. The land about it is rolling bush. It runs to roughly 82 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Around 1.7 miles of margin, front to back. Lac du Flambeau is the closest place, 5 miles off. Eagle River lies 26 miles off, Rhinelander another 29 miles. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Wishow Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Open biodiversity records for Vilas County list bluegill, yellow perch, walleye, largemouth bass and rock bass. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Take Wishow Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 65°F, while January sits near 9°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around late November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Expect Wishow Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Bolton Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Rules at Wishow Lake are worth checking on the day.